More urgent action needed on economic integration - Maldives President

Address by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic of Maldives at the SAARC Heads of State Summit on Saturday in Colombo

Over the course of the past twenty three years, we have deliberated, at great length, on how SAARC could be used as a vehicle for ensuring greater peace, progress and prosperity for the people of South Asia.

I am pleased that over the last two Summits we embarked on a dedicated mission to make good on our word to make SAARC an effective delivery machine for this purpose.

At this Summit, we should resolve to accelerate and expand this process. Indeed, the theme for this year’s Summit, “Partnership for the People” could not have been more timely, as the challenges of our times demand an increased focus on the needs and aspirations of our peoples. We should, in short, give consideration to the human dimension of the strategic decisions we make at these forums.

Of the many challenges facing us, none is more urgent or has more capacity for calamity than global climate change.

One cannot overemphasise the adverse effects that climate change has on fundamental human rights such as the right to life, shelter and a sustainable livelihood. Science tells us that climate change, if left unmitigated, will have catastrophic consequences for many of us.

Paradoxically, global climate change policies are still driven more by economic rationale rather than the all-too important issue of human security.

However, I am heartened to note that the recently concluded SAARC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change is a development in the right direction. The SAARC Environment Ministers recognized that ours is the most vulnerable region in the world to climate change, putting the livelihood of our people at serious risk.

I believe, therefore, that our policy decisions must reflect the social and human rights implications of climate change. Today, the role and capacity of Asian economies have changed considerably.

The exponential growth of the region’s population, combined with greater purchasing power owed to economic progress has increased pressure on already inflated food prices. Unfortunately, the fact remains that, increased food prices affect the most vulnerable and poor sections of our populations.

The SAARC Food Bank proposed at the 14th Summit in New Delhi would be a practical instrument that will help meet the challenges of food scarcity and lay the foundations for greater food security in the region.

Early ratification and operationalisation of the Food Bank is, therefore, vital for the sustainable supply of essential food items in the region. Strategies are also required for efficient utilisation and allocation of limited natural resources in the regions.

Indeed, innovative ideas supported by cutting-edge research will enable us to ensure the welfare of the more than 1.4 billion people living in the region.

The other unintended consequence of rapid economic growth in the South Asian region is the high demand for energy, bringing with it a host of challenges, most notably contributing to an unprecedented rise in global oil prices.

The question remains as to how we can address the energy crisis without hindering growth and prosperity of Member States. I propose four measures to remedy this problem.

First, we need to greatly ease our reliance on fossil fuels and set tangible targets to harness sustainable alternative energy resources.

Second, we need to introduce national policies, including trade reforms, aimed at more sustainable and efficient energy consumption.

Third, we should look into developing greater cooperation with other economic partners such as the countries of the ASEAN bloc. Fourth, and most importantly, economic activity must be supported by a desire to protect and sustain the natural environment.

SAARC Member States want to live together in harmony and peace. I believe, therefore, it is our most important duty to undertake all efforts to strengthen peace and stability in the region and our collective efforts to combating the scourge of terrorism.

The SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters will complement the efforts of the law enforcement agencies for greater regional cooperation In the fight against terrorism. Since its establishment, the SAARC community has generally been progressing in the right direction with major regional cooperation in economic and trade related activities.

Looking back, regional economic integration could have gone faster and further. Even today, we need more urgent action to push economic integration forward; otherwise, our region may not stay abreast of global trends.

The way forward is to make deliberate attempts to include other building blocks for increased regional integration via people-to-people contact and interactions at various levels. Two fine examples are the introduction of the Social Charter and the SAARC Development Fund.

The Social Charter must be used as an effective vehicle in ensuring that the economic, social and political benefits reaped are felt across the full spectrum of our societies.

Twenty-three years ago, the nations of South Asia made a promise to themselves. Our dream, based on our common history and geographical proximity, was to build the good society where harmony and progress would prevail. While we have made huge strides in realizing this ideal, there is much that still needs to be done.

Our task now is to identify such real terms and building blocks that need to be put in place for the SAARC community to flourish.

We must not rest easy with the belief that this process is inevitable; but must strive to ensure that the achievements are irreversible. Our determination, and our effort, must embody the resolve that exists amongst our member countries to realize our common future together.